Particle sprayer

Abstract

A particle sprayer includes a hollow body divided into an air compartment and a storage compartment for particulate material. The air compartment receives a piston which is manually slideable along the length of the air compartment to create air pressure within the air compartment. An air passageway provides air flow communication between the air compartment and the exterior of the sprayer. A discharge tube extends into the material in the storage compartment at one end and at the other end intersects the air passageway near a restriction in the air passageway defining a venturi opening. Depression of the piston creates increased air flow velocity past the venturi opening and the resultant low pressure area draws material up the discharge tube from the storage compartment to be dispersed in a uniform amount into the air in the air passageway and ejected from the sprayer as a spray.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A sprayer for particulate material, comprising in combination: an elongated tubular main body separated into at least one air compartment and at least one storage compartment for the particulate material;   means for moving air mounted in the air compartment;   an air passageway providing air flow communication between the air compartment and the exterior of the main body; and   a discharge tube mounted within the main body extending into the storage compartment, said discharge tube having one end insertable within the particulate material in the storage compartment and a second end having an outlet orifice extending partially across and in air flow communication with said air passageway, a venturi opening in the air passageway located adjacent to said second end defined by an upstream edge of said outlet orifice, said outlet orifice having a downstream edge lying substantially on said air passageway, whereby movement of the means for moving air within said air compartment creates air pressure in the air compartment and air flow from the air compartment to the exterior of the main body along the air passageway, which air flow passes the venturi opening at an increased velocity creating a low pressure area at said second opening of said discharge tube to withdraw particulate material from the one end of said discharge tube and into the air passageway and then to the exterior of the main body, and said outlet orifice prevents backflow of the particulate material into the air compartment.   
     
     
       2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving air is a piston integrally connected with a button near a top end of said main body, said piston slideable along an inner surface of the air compartment, said button adapted to be manually actuated. 
     
     
       3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein a bottom end of said main body is threadably connected to an end cap, said bottom end having a circular opening therein closed by said end cap, said end cap having a relatively raised portion and a trough portion, whereby particulate material on the raised portion moves toward the trough portion, said trough portion being adjacent to said one end of said discharge tube. 
     
     
       4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said air compartment includes means for biasing said air moving means away from said air passageway. 
     
     
       5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said air compartment is separated from said storage compartment by a bulkhead lying generally in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said tubular body, and said air passageway being formed radially through said bulkhead. 
     
     
       6. A sprayer for particulate material, comprising in combination: an elongated tubular body separated into at least one air compartment and at least one storage compartment for the particulate material;   means for moving air mounted in the air compartment;   an air passageway providing air flow communication between the air compartment and the exterior of the main body; and   a discharge tube mounted within the main body extending into the storage compartment, said discharge tube having one end insertable within the particulate material in the storage compartment and a second end in air flow communication with said air passageway, said second end of said discharge tube having a chamfer which extends partially across said air passageway and in air flow communication with said air passageway, said chamfer partially closing said air passageway to define a venturi opening, whereby movement of the means for moving air within said air compartment creates air pressure in the air compartment and air flow from the air compartment to the exterior of the main body along the air passageway, which air flow moves past the chamfer at an increased velocity creating a low pressure area at said second opening of said discharge tube to withdraw particulate material from the one end of said discharge tube and into the air passage and then to the exterior of the main body.   
     
     
       7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said discharge tube has substantially the same outside diameter as the inside diameter of the air passageway, whereby said chamfer substantially locks the air passageway against flow of particulate material under back pressure created in the air compartment. 
     
     
       8. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for moving air is a piston integrally connected with a button near a top end of said main body, said piston slideable along an inner surface of the air compartment, said button adapted to be manually actuated. 
     
     
       9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein a bottom end of said main body is threadably connected to an end cap, said bottom end having a circular opening therein closed by said end cap, said end cap having a relatively raised portion and a trough portion, whereby particulate material in the raised portion moves toward the trough portion, said trough portion being adjacent to said one end of said discharge tube. 
     
     
       10. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said air compartment includes means for biasing said air moving means away from said air passageway. 
     
     
       11. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said air compartment is separated from said storage compartment by a bulkhead lying generally in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said tubular body, and said air passageway being formed radially through said bulkhead. 
     
     
       12. A sprayer for particulate material, comprising in combination: an elongated tubular body separated into at least one air compartment and at least one storage compartment for the particulate material;   means for moving air mounted in the air compartment;   an air passageway providing air flow communication between the air compartment and the exterior of the main body; and   a discharge tube mounted within the main body extending into the storage compartment, said discharge tube having one end insertable within the particulate material in the storage compartment and a second end having an outlet orifice extending partially across and in air flow communication with said air flow passageway to prevent backflow into said air compartment, said outlet orifice defining a venturi opening adjacent to said second end, whereby movement of the means for moving air within said air compartment creates air pressure in the air compartment, and air flow from the air compartment to the exterior of the main body along the air passageway, which air flow passes the venturi opening at an increased velocity creating a low pressure area at said second opening of said discharge tube to withdraw particulate material from the one end of said discharge tube and into the air passageway and then to the exterior of the main body.